Before we get into People Magazine’s latest cover story, today is the annual Buckingham Palace pre-Christmas luncheon. All of the royals come to the palace for several hours of ham (one would assume) and awkward small talk. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the only major royals not in attendance this year, I think. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expected to attend, and they brought Charlotte and George. But… William and Kate arrived in separate cars. Which is very interesting, right? Um, maybe there are some increasingly visible cracks or strains in the Cambridge marriage? But don’t tell that to People Mag’s sources, all of whom seem to be lining up to praise William and Kate for being… regal. For just being there, waiting to be king and queen. Like they’re the next in line or something.
Kate Middleton and Prince William stole the spotlight at Queen Elizabeth‘s Buckingham Palace last week, making it clear that they are ready for the next step on their royal journey. Entering the glittering palace ballroom behind the monarch and Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Kate and William mingled expertly with partygoers at the Dec. 11 reception for diplomats.
“They combine grace and regal presence with a lovely human touch,” a guest who attended the annual bash tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “They are gracious and natural and yet able to really connect.”
The future King and Queen, who have been married for eight years, are honing their expertise as they go. “They are being prepared every day,” says royal biographer Ingrid Seward. “There was no school for princesses when Princess Diana was around, and there is no school today for monarchs. They learn by observing and by experience.”
Their teamwork was also on display during the couple’s triumphant tour of Pakistan in October. “They are a great double act,” says a senior royal source. “People make much of William giving the big speeches, but Kate is there too, asking questions of presidents and their wives. These things are easier when they are side by side.”
Increasing travel and work commitments bring added pressures on their own family, especially as older children Prince George, 6, and Princess Charlotte, 4, are more aware of their parents’ away time. (Little Louis is 19 months.) And occasionally, something’s got to give. Kate recently had to cancel an appearance with William at an evening event for the Tusk Conservation Awards because of a childcare issue. A source close to the royal household says, “That is good for other mothers out there.”
They are also preparing for a busy year ahead. The couple are expected to go abroad on at least two overseas visits and continue with their efforts at home in the U.K. promoting mental health initiatives and supporting families with young children. As they near 40, both royals are also keenly aware of the passage of time — and how much closer it brings them to the throne. “The monarchy is approaching a very challenging period of change,” says royal historian Robert Lacey. “Charles is going to have his work cut out coping with the transitions. It’s good to have that reassurance in the new generation that there is someone stepping up to the plate.”
“It’s good to have that reassurance in the new generation that there is someone stepping up to the plate.” Where? Show me. Because where I sit, it seems like the PR has gotten more sugary because people are actually quite concerned about the Cambridges specifically. They still aren’t working as much as they should be. They can’t even put on a big, happy family show as they arrive to the palace. Kate doesn’t want William’s rose-trimming hands on her. They don’t trust Kate to do many solo events (thus the “double act” nonsense) even after nearly nine years of marriage. I don’t know… feels like trouble is brewing in the House of Keen. Also: it never fails to annoy me that the Cambridges are spoken about like they’re next in line to the throne. They will be the Prince and Princess of Wales soon enough, and that’s a big enough deal. It’s weird that no one frames it like that.
Will and Kate arriving separately today at the palace. Update: all of the “how dare you point out that they arrived separately” comments are cracking me up. Historically, Will and Kate have arrived at the Christmas lunch together, in the same car. Last year, they arrived together in a Range Rover with George and Charlotte in the back too. It IS legitimately notable that they arrived in separate cars this year.
Photos courtesy of Getty and Avalon Red, cover courtesy of People.
Have Americans heard of PRINCE CHARLES, the Prince of Wales and rightful HEIR? Unless there’s an unexpected tragedy, William won’t be King for YEARS, if there even is a monarchy by that time.
Yeah they’ve got a whole generation in front of them before they’ll be king and Queen. I’d be so annoyed if I was Charles and Camilla.
Yeaaah but Charles is 71 now.
Yeah but if he lives as long as TQ that could be twenty years of ruling.
True but given the royal familys track record, he has a likelihood of 15-20 years more left so he could reign for a while
Last year I was actually doing the math in my head when Charles turned 70 (he and my aunt are almost the exact same age) and realized that if QE2 lives to be as old as her mum she’ll rule for around 8-9 more years or so. So Charles would be in his late 70’s and if HE lives that long as well W+K won’t be king and queen until they’re in their late 50’s, if not even older.
So for sure, these People covers are really silly.
I think is clear that Kate and William sell more tabloids and generate more clicks and views on internet than Charles and Camilla. That’s why the narrative around Cate and William soon to be Queen and King. Its sells!
right? It’s pretty obvious that the young royals simply sell much better.
This sort of constant focus by media on Cambridge’s getting ready to be King & Queen must be especially difficult for Charles as he has to die for this to happen. You’d think William would diplomatically try to ‘remind’ media/public that stories should focus on him being the next Prince of Wales. Of course, then it has to be the Queen that is dead! I find this sort of PR reporting extremely tacky and insensitive whomever is pushing it.
I think at certain points they’ve all mentioned that nobody really wants the job.
@Perplexed, no they didn’t ALL declare that nobody wanted to be king. PRINCE HARRY said that from his understanding nobody wanted to be king, and of course he was dragged mercilessly by the British media and some Cambs stans.
This sort of focus on W&K being the next King and Queen (or Princess Consort, who knows) looks omninous on my eyes. And the article is absolutely right: there’s no logical reason for them to arrive in two different cars, unless he had had a previous appointment, which was not the case because he had big G with him.
And if they are the next king and queen, I pray mercy to UK. They weren’t called “work-shy William” and “Lazy Katy” for the hard work they did.
Yeah, but by the time King Charles is old like the Queen, the tabloids will be praising handsome Prince George and his beautiful young wife as the new future King and Queen, bypassing Will and Kate. So they might as well enjoy the limelight now. Plus, they’re not aging well and look a decade older than they really are. Their yeras of being cover-worthy are limited, so again they should bask in admiration (for their physical appearance, which is the only thing they are judged on), while they still can.
Love this analysis!
I’ve been to Walgreens about 5 times in the past week and the cover of In Touch cracks me up because it legit says William and Kate are about to be King and Queen. Right now. Queen Elizabeth is stepping down and Charles gave up his chance. Right there, on the cover!
We are stupid!!! Look what we have for a president? case closed!
Most americans never leave usa, no clue just big mouths. Me? Born in beautiful safe san francisco! And been to uk 10 times for vaca!
Goodness, Kerwood, People Magazine =\= American people.
Why is George riding in the front??
It is not forbidden here in the UK
Just because it’s allowed doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do for a child that small. Here it’s only allowed for a 2-seater car. Otherwise it’s the back seat.
This shocked me too. I don’t know what the rules are in the UK, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter where you are, an airbag could kill a child.
I’m really surprised they don’t have a law in the UK about this. The studies on airbags harming younger kids have been out for years.
@ Shazbot : The Beckhams got slammed for this once when their boys were young (putting a child in the front passenger seat). Apparently they said they had made an adjustment to the air bag so that a child could safely be put in that seat. Maybe William did the same thing?
P.S. : I love your name. Nanu-Nanu
Most places don’t allow it until the child is 12 and George isn’t even 7. It’s a dumb risk to take for a PR shot.
They’re allowed in the front as long as you have the front passenger airbag disabled, which is easily done with a switch in most cars.
You can turn the airbag off if there is a child/smaller person in the front seat. That said, it is usually used only if there aren’t other seats available in the car. How much of George in the front seat is for a “Happy Family Time in the Car” photo?
But then it beats the purpose of having this safety feature in yr car non? If they’re in a car crash, God forbid, how would George be protected? So pretty much his father has his side of airbags activated for his own safety, but they inactivated the safety feature for his son, correct? Horrible. Why not just have the kid travel in the backseat for George’s own safety? Geez, I guess PR tramples everything.
Well, if Kate feels William is stupid enough to be putting their young son in the front seat, maybe that’s why they’re arriving in separate cars….
Hm. I loved riding in the front seat as a small child, and I’m glad George gets to enjoy this experience. At least he’s wearing a seatbelt- we never had to until we were older, when the law was passed. (Although we did so willingly when my grandfather drove.)
Come on guys, don’t you remember your childhoods?
Yes, shocked me too. Like….what???? He is way too little.
Also very surprised by that. In the US, kids are still riding in in booster seats until they’re like 8 years old sometimes. And after they get rid of the booster seat they’re still in the back. My son would ask the pediatrician every single year if he was big enough/old enough to sit in the front seat yet, and he just got the okay from the pediatrician at his 12 year old check up.
The DM has a picture of all five of them leaving the lunch in the same car. All three children look very angry in the back seat in their car seats. Like right pissed off. Mommy of course, is just smiling away.
Wait so what happens to the extra car? Is this another empty plane situation?
@Nic – I think the RPOs/nanny Maria took the second car.
So they had more passengers than would fit in one car and George wanted to sit in the front seat. Not much of a scandal.
In several European countries it is allowed as long as you use a booster seat…
I looked it up because I was shocked- it is allowed in the UK but general recommendation is to keep them in the back until age 12 due to risk of injury should the air bag go off. George in front makes for great photos though…
These photos were all from them entering the palace grounds, and that he was not actually driven across London in this manner. They drove with secret service guards (in other vehicles to run offense/defense) a very short distance on a road they know well. It is a 21-minute drive on slow roads. There is a zero percent chance of George – or indeed, anyone – being harmed by driving in stop-and-go traffic from Holland Park to The Mall. I applaud Americans for popping up to remind us all of how dangerous driving can be. I personally would never put my kid in the front seat, so I don’t necessarily disagree with your surprise, but plenty of parents only drive pickups/vans/cars with only two seats.
Not American here but I have handled lawsuits where there are serious injuries at low speed collisions and even parking lots. An accident can happen anywhere. Nowhere is there a zero chance of an accident. I have seen footage of what happens to a child when an airbag hits them in the wrong spot and it is horrific. Why take that risk for a dumb photo op? A booster seat can’t make up for a child not being large enough to clear the arc to the airbag exploding in their face.
Wasn’t Prince Phillip on palace grounds when he had his accident? It can happen at slow speeds with security present.
I’m not american. However, my country has the same regard to children under 12/certain height riding in the front seat of a car.
I disagree that nothing could happen because they’re on a familiar street/route, inside palace grounds and driving slowly. Something could happen to the person driving, causing an accident. George is not out of harm’s way just because his dad is driving him on palace grounds at a snail’s pace.
I was 1 1/2 blocks from my home when a car came speeding the WRONG WAY out of a one-way alley…and it turned out they had NO brakes (they also turned out to be uninsured!)! My car was hit with such force they had to use the jaws of life to open my front door (and I was in a pretty sturdy car!). The accident blew out my knee (which was jammed into the gear-shift), damaged three disks in my neck, two in my back, and gave me a concussion.
There is NO guarantee there won’t be an accident, even with police riding shotgun. Unless they stopped a few doors down from the palace to switch George to the front, he should’ve been in the back for safety.
I have a relative who was killed years ago in a very low speed collision by an airbag. So it can absolutely happen. Their family sued and settled with General Motors for a generous sum.
Exactly, JDAY.
This is an outdated rule in newer cars & it’s not illegal to have a young person in the front seat, it’s a recommendation based on older air bags. Newer cars usually have the air bags which turn off if the person sitting in the front is under a certain weight (mine is this way), so a child in the front seat is fine- no air bag will go off & all is good.
Americans would prefer kids to sit in booster seats till they leave for college. Well, ideally they would travel in a padded bubble till they are 18, with legally mandated 24/7 parental supervision, until they arrive at school to practice active shooter drills. Won’t somebody think of the European children?
George is sitting on a booster seat, so what is your point?
Exactly. My 13 year old can legally sit in the front seat but he’s so thin that the airbag automatically turns off anyway. There’s an indicator light that comes on that says “Airbag Disabled” or something.
@Lisa, that’s a little rude.
@betsy, but she’s not wrong
It looks irresponsible and just to show him off to the press. The future future and heir.
Clearly none of you have seen accident photos when things go wrong and kids are injured or killed. No normal parent would ever take an extra risk if they didn’t have to. But normal parents don’t think about PR photos. I mean William’s mother only died because she was in a car accident without a seatbelt. Why be extra cautious for your kids??
Nic919, these are the same parents who insisted on having the car seat for their son installed against manufacturers recommendations (and local laws) when they toured Australia.
Nic919- Your definition of a ‘normal parent’ is narrow, incorrect, and perhaps a little offensive.
Exactly what I was thinking too! WTF, that kid should be in the back.
They have two spares.
Lol! Good one! 👍
Dah why not!! Makes him feel like a big boy! You have any kids????
I agree Mj. He can’t see anything in the back anyway.
Yes always listen to what your young kids want and ignore safety. That’s totally what adults should do!
Unclench.
Everyone is continuing to ignore the fact that it has been pointed out multiple times that the airbags are easily disabled so that children can sit in the front safely. There is no carelessness or danger here but I guess that doesn’t fit the narrative that the Cambridges are devil spawn.
The Wessexes arrived separately as well, and from the pictures I’ve seen, looks like Prince Charles and Camilla did, too. No big deal.
Well, they all have jobs.
🤣🤣🤣 Thank you, Lady D.
I’m not seeing the issue as well. And most people won’t either except those finding fault with everything the Cambridges do.
We are not privy to the travel logistics & security could also be a factor. I noticed an RPO was present in both cars which we don’t normally see.
Maybe they were just coming from different places. No big deal.
I mean, maybe logistics meant separate cars?
The terms Rose-trimming hands and House of Keen are making my day. Thanks Kaiser!
Me too! Those lines made me laugh out loud 🙂
I agree, logistics. He probably has to go somewhere right after this where he can be seen pretending to be working, well she needs to go home to supervise the nanny that looks after Louis.
Agreed! 😂✔️
Logistics as in living separately? That was my first thought, but if they’re living separately I’m surprised that George was with Will and not Kate. Maybe Will picked George up from school to bring him to this thing and Charlotte was already at home with Kate.
Amy Too, Charlotte and George go to the same school, so I doubt that is it. It probably just makes sense to seperate the older children instead of having one parent arrive with all 3.
There’s no room for an RPO or nanny if they’re all in one car as they’re a family of 5 traveling. I think it’s logistical.. to have an RPO with them. Plus they couldn’t have not known it would make tongues wag with gossip, why bring another gossip story this year after so many real/ imagined ones?
There are vehicles that fit 7 passengers that would fit an RPO and nanny Maria along with a family of 5. Let’s stop pretending they couldn’t use one vehicle. It doesn’t matter why they chose to use two vehicles, it’s still wasteful to do it.
I would argue there’s no fast exit for 7 person vehicles because you have to wait to exit the last row. But everyone can interpret as they like. I see no issue with it.
But, they all left in one car (the Cambridges).
@Eliza_says
Exactly! Completely agree. I am not sure why people are nitpicking so much. I have a daughter and I often travel to 2 different cars with my husband, because logistics. It’s obvious they arrived separately… and? What’s the big deal there?
Sophie and Edward also arrived separately, are they in crisis too? Same with Charles and Camila.
Also… I am all for taking down the Cambridges but, this makes sense “Nanny, protection officer, 3 kids and 2 parents – they don’t fit in one”
But, do they take two cars every time they go somewhere as a family? If so, that seems inefficient and dare I say, not good for the environment. They need to get a minivan if that’s the case.
What? no, I’m not.
the people insisting they HAD to take two cars because of “logistics” are the ones grasping at straws.
Like I said below, its not the separate arrival that is a big deal. Its that it would be an easy PR move to have them arrive together, given the reaction to Kate’s shrug from the other night.
ETA I am LOLing at the idea that suggesting the royals get a bigger car or a minivan is grasping at straws.
It’s probably that George had a thing at school (or some other little kid commitment) and Louis and Charlotte were home.
It is absurd to pretend that the royals can’t get access to a vehicle that fits 7 passengers. Even if they don’t want the middle class minivan, they can get crossover vehicles and SUVs that are higher end and fit the bill.
They all left in the same car. There are DM pictures.
Tons of vehicles fit 7 passengers. They could get an Audi Q7 since we have seen them drive Audi’s in the past.
It’s wasteful to use multiple vehicles too. And if the Wessexes are doing it it’s not great either.
+1. I don’t think they are in a crisis. What bugs me is all of them giving 0 f****s about the environment. arrrgh
I would think leaving the RPO in the back of a 7 person vehicle, or one or two of the kids, would be dangerous if they needed to exit the vehicle in a hurry.
My sister got a 7 seater Highlander so all of us could go places together as a family (instead of taking two cars). It takes TIME to get anyone out of that very back seat! First the middle has to exit, then just springing those seats forward to get the back sitters out… it is a chore! lol. I can’t imagine getting a little one (or two!) out of a car seat that far back seat in a hurry!
It is more dangerous for George to be in the front seat. And clearly security wasn’t an issue when they all left in one car.
That depends, do Sophie and Edward and Charles and Camilla all make a huge point of what a happily married couple they are with any PR they can? Not to the extent of the Cambridges, so comparing them means nothing.
I thought it was well known that Charles and Camilla live separate lives.
I think Charles and Camilla do kind of do that so that she’ll be seen as an acceptable replacement for what would have been Diana’s role. I don’t have an opinion on it, but I think some element of that is there with Charles and Camilla. As for Edward, he was always the prince nobody ever cared to read about. He’s like the invisible prince you forget exists until these events happen. He’s the prince you skip over when turning the pages of Hello magazine.
Ariela – I think they do, but the PR for them has to be ramped up occasionally a bit given the history of their relationship.
Perplexed- Lol- perfect summation of Edward!
I think they are being cautious. Both Will and Kate have a protection officer in the car. Andrew, Beatrice, and Edward also appear to have security with them. I think they are doing it because there have been threats. Beatrice and Edward never have security with them for these things and I don’t think the Cambridges did last year either.
And yet George is sitting in the front seat well under the recommended age of 12. If an airbag takes him out there’s not much an RPO can do from the back seat. If they were being cautious, they wouldn’t be placing him there.
This is blatant PR and wasteful of the environment. Neither William or Kate have jobs to go to after this party.
@Nic919 Have you bought a car in the past decade? There is either a switch to turn off the airbag or it requires a certain passenger weight to turn on. Your argument is false.
My argument isn’t false and I have dealt with this issue in cases in court. Turning off the air bag still doesn’t make it the safest way for a small child to travel. Please stop talking about legal things when you have no clue what you are saying.
I don’t know but neither E&S nor C&C seem to have the “loving vibe” between them. The only picture I saw of a nice couple between C&C was the Christmas card last year.
Charlotte so much resembles TQ.
TOTALLY. I’ve been saying that for a while now.
All I see are Carole and Pippa in her. Lady Louise is the one who looks exactly like the Queen.
Yeah, I figured that they could get 2 adults and 3 kids into one vehicle so where does Maria and the security sit? Didn’t want to be rolling up in a mini-van or people mover – that’s not a very good picture.
Lol, picture them all spilling out of one of those Duggar buses like Jim Bob and Michelle.
Kate had Louis with her as well.
It’s not spelt Louie? I didn’t know there was an ‘s’ in his name.
It’s *pronounced* the French way (Louie).
I don’t think that everything is Rosey (lol) in the Cambridge marriage at the moment, but I think the car situation was done so Prince George could sit in the front for the photo-op, which honestly sickens me because we all know why the kids are being trotted out. I don’t have kids so I’m genuinely asking; is George not too young to be sitting in the front of a car?
Also, Louis was there too, so I don’t think they would have all fit in the same car?
Yes, George is too young and too small to be sitting safely in the front seat. The airbag could injure or kill him. In the US, kids don’t get to sit in the front until they’re about 12 years old.
Frankly that’s the part I find most ridiculous. He’s not big enough to sit up front and if there was an airbag deployment he would be injured. The RPO would be useless here.
It’s a dumb risk for a parent to take just for PR. He’s not even 7 so it’s not like he’s close to the borderline age where he might be physically large enough to avoid the risks.
It looked like Charlotte was in the front next to Kate also. And I thought the children were finished with school for Christmas. So no one was coming from or going to school.
My thoughts too. George in the front seat is a photo op of the future future king next to the future future future king. Every opportunity is a PR stunt so the adoring public can admire the beautiful people.
Le sigh.
George is not a happy camper. Poor little lad, looks like he’s not getting enough sleep. My son gets those big purple ‘bruises’ under his eyes and he has the same colouring as Little George does…… and also, when he’s super pissed off.
That could be something of a “Middleton” trait: Kate had those bags/bruisy-looking circles as a little kid, and her dad still looks like he has those dark circles under his eyes.
George has a resting Winston Churchill face, but that hardly makes him an unhappy camper.
Legit surprised they came separately, especially after the Mary Berry special and the shrug. Thought they’d do some PR repair and appear as one happy future future monarch family.
THIS is why its weird. the separate arrival in itself isn’t necessarily a big deal – but given the coverage of the past two days, it seems that they would have gone out of their way to arrive together.
Unless they just want to continue this narrative. Anything to keep the spotlight on them (so gross) and distract from a) the fact that Kate has barely worked this year and b) the PedoPrince is still invited to holiday shindigs because his Mummy loves him best…
Exactly. I know they’ve driven separately before, but on family event days, they are almost always together. I would believe the “more people are coming, so let’s take two cars” story if they hadn’t had the shoulder shrug heard round the world just a couple of days prior. They are very aware of optics and wouldn’t allow that to continue without trying to stamp out the negative views. I also think the person who said George in the front seat is the photo op they want out there, is correct.
ETA – dang it, people have convinced me that George maybe had something that held him up, and since William and Kate are just your average, normal parents, they didn’t cancel so one of them arrived late with him. I do think this makes sense since after the negative spin of the shoulder shrug, they would definitely want to give some good togetherness photo ops to counter it. Again, I do think they are very aware of optics and larger public opinion.
Hah, I had the opposite reaction! The fact that this is coming immediately post-shrug off gate makes me think the two cars were genuinely unavoidable, likely because of separate plans/outings earlier in the day. Their PR person and/or at the very least Kate, who is VERY concerned with their image, would have absolutely wanted that family shot to counter the narrative. Even if they ARE having marital problems, they’re not going to be as blatantly obvious about revealing them as this. If they had done their usual PR overcorrection I would have been a lot more suspicious of this.
Yeah and like Kaiser said, they always show up in the same vehicle, kids included. It IS kind of strange/notable after shouldergate made the media cycle for the past two days.
If they were Kardashians they’d be deliberately trolling the audience by playing up the shrug storyline …
Can you imagine the headlines if Meghan arrived separately driving the car? O_O
If the Sussexs arrived in two cars, the Cambridges would be “paped” the next day taking the tube or bus.
Or can you imagine if Meghan arrived with a nanny to look after her children.
This is a non story.
William had George in the car with either the protection officer/chauffer in the back with him while Kate drove and had Charlotte and Louise with her. Idk how folks think everyone was going to fit in one car?
IDK, how do normal people do it? We get bigger cars if we are regularly transporting that many people. Its why I drive a minivan. We have two kids and regularly go places with at least two other adults (so four adults, 2-3 kids.)
Right? Do they go places as a family so rarely that they don’t have a vehicle that will transport all of them together? It fits my separate households theory.
Hey! Lucky for you youre not a royal or a celeb so u dont have to worry about something as shallow as the photop and how it’ll look. 8-10 people getting out of a car is not a Look and would still require something bigger than a mini vam.
I dont get why people expect the royals/celebs to act as if theyre normal folks.. theyre not. They might try and put up a good act, but behind closed Doors all of them are as bougie as it gets. All.of.them.
But apparently they left in one car, so it was possible.
And the photo op for getting out of a bigger car doesn’t matter, bc there are no photos of the royals exiting the car at this event.
Becks, if you notice in the leaving pics, the Cams are in the car with the kids (for the money shot) No RPOs and Nanny Maria. They would be in the car directly behind them (and probably a police escort in front?).
@Coffee, Agree with you. I also think George (right or wrong) was in the front seat specifically for a well planned out photo-op.
There are a lot of vehicles that fit 7 passengers. It’s wasteful to use two vehicles for something like this because it’s not like either of them are heading off to work after this party.
I’m sure they travel with more than 7 people. I mean the family its a family of 5 plus security people a d maybe a nanny.
Then I can point out other vehicles that would fit their needs. If security is such an issue in downtown London then why would they ever leave KP?
Security is an issue everywhere they go, “why would the ever leave kp” bc they have to make appearances and do their “job”. I wonder how many people who are outraged about the using a second vehicle take public transit every day? How many people choose to walk rather than drive?
And since they all took the same car on the way back clearly the RPO and nanny didn’t need to be in the car with them.
And FYI I do take public transit to work so I have no issues pointing out their wastefulness.
Since you are clearly passionate about being wasteful I imagine you felt the same way when Harry and Meg took two private jets in ten days. It we are talking environmental impact one was much more significant
Nice deflection. But William just did something about the environment last week. Using the second car is wasteful, but really putting George in the front seat is the dumbest thing they did today.
I’m inclined to believe that Nic is determined to be “right.”
In my corner of the world our family has met up, traveled separately, and would say in response to you- why are you making something out of nothing? People, both families and friends, have valid reasons for arriving separately.
Right, the royals have absolutely NO access to Range Rovers that seat 7 and I’m sure own none, poor little sausages.
But they did, of course, on the way out. Nanny & RPOs separately.
Oh and that cover story on People is hilarious. This has gotten ridiculous at this point.
How many stories have we had this year about how Kate and William are preparing for the throne?
We get it. William will be king eventually.
Also, that line about how “its good that someone is stepping up to the plate in this generation” was such shade at Meghan and Harry.
I didn’t really follow the RF until Meghan came into the picture, was People a typical go-to for the Cambridge’s? I thought that People was more of a Sussex publication. Weren’t the Sussexes criticized for using a Hollywood tabloid as a mouthpiece?
People magazine has always been all about “Princess” Kate.
Lol. Preparing for the throne!
Key word is “Sussexes”. It’s fine for the other royals to be plastered on the front of People Mag but Harry and Meghan have to stay away. Unless of course it’s a story about the “rift” or about them “struggling”.
That cover story is just silly. People trying to hype this couple is pathetic. There’s no there there. They are two very dull people with no “it” factor.
People is just fluff with zero substance.
@Becks If they keep writing these William ready to be king stories the Queen and Charles better start sleeping with one eye open. That guy is such a turtle. He’s in no hurry to get up on that throne. He spends more time looking over his shoulder than preparing for his future future. Such a putz🙄.
Separate cars does not look good after the shoulder shrug. This is really as far as Kate will go though. No divorce. She knows the British family and press will throw her under the bus over blood any day, and she’ll lose the kids, nanny Maria practically is raising them. This is what happens when you mess with that family. No, Kate just wants some sympathy and respect from the public, she won’t go much farther then this.
She may not have a choice. Maybe William and Rose’s relationship got serious and he will choose her. Maybe they are another Charles and Camilla.
Does anyone think Will is still seeing or contacting Rose? I admit after hearing of the shoulder shrug it ran across my mind. I have absolutely no basis to think it’s still going on, but I’m wondering
Rose would not be giving up her husband or their “position”. Hubby is Lord Chamberlain. His family is a very old, established aristo family. She has ALL of the perks without the fishbowl, restricted life. Aristos play around, incestuously, with each other’s spouses, but usually stay “with the one who brung ’em” in the vernacular.
Even Andrew Parker Bowles and Cammie were PERFECTLY happy with her being Charles’ mistress (APB even took some pride in that). He was sleeping around on her for their whole marriage (even before they married. His affair with Anne ring any bells?). The ONLY reason they divorced was when the affair became too public (outing by Diana… Cammie did NOT want to divorce Andrew; that was HIS choice).
I think that Kate, always knowing about Wills’ Wandering Willie, was fine, as long as he was *discrete* and not shove anything in her face publicly. Let’s not forget, this happened, and then W&K started looking a little more “loving”, and lo and behold: baby #3…Louis! My tin-foil tiara says that Kate and Rose had a falling out about being Kween Keen Bee in Norfolk, and maybe the EACH charity, and Rose leaked the affair to the other Turnip Toffs in the neighborhood. That led to Kate’s remark about “cutting Rose out”, and us hearing about this affair.
Yes @OG. I think Kate genuinely loves Will, and she adores her position. They probably have a tacit agreement which he may have broke the way this whole thing was handled.
As to APB, Camilla, and Charles, you are right. The limelight ultimately ended that marriage not the affair- Camilla wanted to marry APB and knew that he had a wandering problem as well. Also for much of that period of the 1970’s and 80’s, Charles was rumoured to also be having a long term affair with the wife of another friend of his, Lord Tryon. Until Dale got too friendly with royal reporters and talked a bit too openly about her “friendship” with Prince Charles.
There is nothing random about William’s alleged affair with Rose Hanbury , she is the wife of the Lord Chamberlain, who is never going to rock the boat, so William knew that choosing someone like Rose to be his mistress was a safe option.
This is all silly speculation. Yes they’re annoying and boring but it doesn’t seem
likely that their marriage is under any real threat. The shrug was a little slip, nothing more. No way will they repeat that mess of their parents and Kate doesn’t seem the type to ditch the diamonds. The nasty royal reporters are always checking their watch and speculating on the “imminent“ Sussex divorce, so just staying out of all marriage speculations is better for everyone.
Why would Kate “lose” her kids? This not the 1950s. They would be like any other divorced couple and share custody. Plus the kids will probably be sent off to boarding school in a few years anyway.
MsIam – the kids are technically under the Queen’s custody. Kate would see them, but she’d be heavily at the mercy of the RF.
No, Maria. They said the same thing when was Di was divorcing Charles, “she’ll lose the children, they belong to Queen and Country!” It didn’t happen then, it won’t happen now. The outcry for the woman only famous for being a mother would be deafening. William would look like shit for taking those kids, (not that he can) away from their mother for his fling to raise. The publicity would destroy him, and he is allll about image. There is no fear they are taking her children from her. Besides, does William really strike you as the type that would be all about his kids 24/7?
Literally never said she’d lose the kids entirely. Nor did I say Rose would be the one to raise them, ever. But no, they won’t be with her the way they are now. And yes, she will be at the mercy of BRF and what agreement they want to strike (I believe the Queen was gracious in letting Charles and Diana figure out what custody arrangement they wanted – but she can withdraw that at any time, since legally neither Will or Kate have custody of their own children and it’s in her hands). And their publicity would go into overdrive to protect William, because that is what they do. William strikes me as a man who would have nannies raise them — which is what he’s doing now. I can see William demanding primary custody to be spiteful, honestly.
Maria I doubt that’s an issue. Diana was loathed by the queen by the end, and Diana had normal custody.
I highly doubt the car situation (lol to me) is anything. Kate isn’t so reflexive that she’d basically have a tantrum and drive separately to his family’s function. If so, it’d be easier to stay home and make up a reason. She also stuck right by him for all normal events during the rose thing- it’s just not in alignment with her MO. Just my opinion.
Kristina, as an aside: Actually, the Queen still liked Diana enough to want to allow her to still use the HRH honorific, by the time she and Charles divorced. Given how big of a deal the HRH is to members of the RF, I think that’s telling. I believe Charles put his foot down about NOT wanting her to use it.
Maria this is not true and has been disproven several times. It’s 2019 no one legally owns anyone else. Royalty included. The Queen does not ultimately have custody. I can’t speak for internal pressures that may occur but legally should Will and Kate divorce THEY are their children’s parents and legally have custody and decide how to split that. Like any other divorcing family. There are far less legal exemptions for the royal family than people seem to think there are. And even if this were true you really think the family would risk the horrendous PR of taking children away from their mother?
I hate these old wives tales they come from A bizarre fetishization of Royal family anachronisms. Most of which have been spun into truly epic stories at this point but aren’t rooted in that much truth. The queen has many legal principles that apply only to her. None of the rest of them do that are different than anyone else. They can vote, divorce, travel on one plane etc etc. how they CHOOSE to manage that for their own family reasons is up to them.
My apologies – the royal prerogative of the custody of royal children is a legal decision dating from the 1700’s rather than an Act of Parliament assuring the monarch’s legal custody.
I am not finding many sources that effectively disprove that the Queen has royal prerogative over her minor grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I believe this might be a case similar to the proroguing of Parliament – wherein the Queen has royal prerogative to do so and has made political appointments before, but bows to larger precedent of impartiality by remaining out of it.
Therefore, she has the prerogative of overseeing certain decisions with her minor grandchildren and great-grandchildren (such as when she refused to allow Diana to take them out of the country when she and Charles separated) but largely stays out of it.
That being said, I think what you are saying has little bearing on the situation. The point is – William will dictate what he wants. The Crown will rally around that. And the Queen will still have the prerogative to require permission surrounding the activities of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Nowhere did I say the children would be taken from Kate altogether.
Not sole custody, but close to shared custody with William having the upper hand. Anyway a divorce isn’t an impossible idea, Rose isn’t as hated and villified as Camilla was, and Kate isn’t as popular epitome of world class beauty as Diana was, so maybe with less drama the divorce will go smoothly, but I doubt Kate will want to give up the ring.
The Grand Opinion for the Prerogative Concerning the Royal Family (1717) apparently didn’t specify or even address custody of children. It appears to have been an interpretation of the opinion/rule around the time the Royal Marriages Act of 1772 was enacted (see OTS Solicitors site). Further, the interpretation addressed children and grandchildren, not great-grandchildren. In this day and age, it would be a royal catastrophe for the monarch to try to assume custody of over minor great-grandchildren while one or both parents are alive. Talk about bad PR and a court battle of epic proportions–the monarch’s reputation wouldn’t survive it.
I don’t think it’s any big deal they drove separately. The kids are still little so it might be hard for them to stay at a big event for any length of time. It would probably be easier for one parent to duck out with them if the kids are getting cranky so why not take two cars? Plus, if they have separate plans after lunch then they probably needed to take their own cars.
But that’s what Nanny M is there for: if the kids get squirmy, she’s there to swoop in to take them out/care for them. I think (not *knowing* of course!) that the kids are there for the “pre-lunch” show, and then the “adults” go into one dining area, and the kiddies to another. I doubt all the kids are sitting at the table where they could “disrupt” TQ.
I’m sorry. Did i miss the reign of King Charles? why are they propping Will and Kate up like they’re going to be the God and Goddess of the world? smh. But anyway, I think Mrs. Rose Hanbury has better chances of seeing the Queen Consort crown than Pigeon Kate
Rose sure has a better chance of sitting on the consort’s throne, considering they’re “stored” at her home, Houghton Hall! lol
“Almost identical to the sovereign’s throne, but an inch shorter, the consort’s throne is brought back to the Palace of Westminster once a year for State Opening of Parliament from its permanent home in Houghton Hall, Norfolk. The sovereign’s throne is used during each State Opening of Parliament by the Monarch.”
https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/historic-furniture/the-collection/chairs-chairs-chairs/the-sovereigns-throne-/
Sorry, but last year they drove in the same car. The royal family isn’t eco friendly, why are they all driving separately? Carpool
Hmmm… because there is no “bugdet” plane in sight?
The countess of wessex arrived separately from her husband last year as well as Autumn Phillips and they are all happily married couples.
I’m sure they do not have the perfect marriage by any stretch, but my brother and his wife do this all the time, usually because one of their kids has thrown a tantrum and is holding everyone up for an appointment. I have to think it’s infinitely worse trying to get kids ready for a visit with the Queen, so there’s no smoke here for me. The article of how warm and lovely they are… Trump-level gushing about “themselves” while actually describing the Sussexes. Obvious insecurities are obvious. 🤷♀️ But I guess they are no longer competing for most environmentally minded royal couple!
That article sure does a great job if ball washing for ol Wandering Willy. Of course he believes his own press.
Lol@ everyone bringing their anecdotal evidence into this. “MY FAMILY TAKES SEPARATE CARS ALL THE TIME AND SO DO OTHER ROYALS”. Ok, and? These are the Cambridges, they NEVER do this, yes, it’s notable, when you consider alongside Kate dropping out of that Tusk Trust event, and the infamous shoulder shrug — something is up.
Maria, stop grasping at straws!!!!!!
LOL.
I’m not being passive aggressive. I responded to your comment above. I thought it was a funny comment to make for something that’s not that serious.
but, we always disagree on the Cambridges, so I’m not surprised we are looking at this differently.
Have a good day!
Exactly. Look at the data from *this* family. In 2018 they came together in a three row car with Nanny Maria in the second row (where is she btw?!) and George and Charlotte in the back row. They all fit last year so what has changed. Also, what happened to that car?
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a25620057/kate-middleton-queen-christmas-luncheon-2018/
The one difference is the first time they have brought Louis which is one more person? That is all I can think of. I mean on one hand I can see why one more child might change logistics but I also see why people are side eyeing it after the interview.
But, yes, I agree with you. It’s not about what is typical for other families or royals. Its about what is typical for the Cambridges. And its notable given recent “events.”
Omg thank you. Anyone who’s watched them enough knows that this is unusual. Some weirdness is definitely afoot in the Cambridge household; I’d add all the resignations/firings of the past 4 months to your list of the odd stuff happening with them.
I mean, it’s more likely they drove separately for convenience purposes. If they had shown up in a massive SUV or a limousine people would have been upset at the expense of a new vehicle, if they arrived separately people would have (and are) said that there are problems and their marriage and they dont care about the environment. It’s a lose/lose.
As far as “preparing for the Throne” – even before I started reading Celebitchy and got a better outlook of what the royal family actually is and how it works, I remember seeing Future Queen Kate years ago. They’ve been playing this story over and over probably just because the younger generation sells.
Is there a rule that all the heirs can’t travel together in one vehicle, so if something happens the whole line of succession doesn’t get blown up?
I was just about to say that. I would have expected George and Lottie to swap places to preserve that rule.
They all left in one car.
that was a rule – not for cars but for planes I think – when they took George to Australia it was a “thing” – I remember reading that the Queen basically waived the rule at that point.
But, looking back, no clue if it was a “real” rule or just something reporters made up….
TQ waived that rule for WILLIAM to fly to Australia with Diana and Charles. Precedent was set for George.
@TheOG – thanks! I didn’t realize that. I just remember lots of talk about it when they did their Australia tour.
De nada, Becks 😊
Why would they arrive separately in two gas guzzling Range Rovers? Who are these eco hypocrites preaching to us about conservation? Think of the carbon footprint. Maybe they should get a hybrid mini van. Are they coming from the same household? Seriously, with this, the Tusk lame babysitting excuse and the Berry Christmas, something’s up. The press don’t have the Sussexes to use as human punching bags to write about and they’ve gone CIA level underground, so can’t use them to distract from election or the other Royals. Instead of articles on this not so united front, you get some incredibly bad and vacuous fan-fiction of People magazine. What was the point of that article based on nothing? Is this written by an actual journalist or just talking points from their press team?
Meh much ado about nothing (except for the environmental impact). Both of them will show some PDA during the Xmas church walk to quell the gossip. I don’t doubt William can cheat but I doubt they will divorce. Where are those royal body language experts though? Double standards as usual.
If the reason she’s so pissed these days is because they have to use their kids to protect a predator, I doubt we will see the PDA. Of course on the other hand, she does tow the company line well.
I still think they live in separate places.
I think for the most part they’re apart a lot of the time. Who’d want to put up with his shite?
Much ado about nothing… All five have now left together in one car.
My guess, George had something important at school this morning he didn’t want to miss or some other appointment and Will (with the PO officer) was in charge of collecting him.
Main point – gorgeous kids!
They came separately and left together? You don’t find that strange? This is not normal behavior from the likes of them. The Cambridges needed to look like a united family front for the Queen since Andrew was there. Yet, they come in two cars that only increased speculation! It’s as if they piled into that car after the reception to allay scrutiny. I have news: it ain’t working. Social media is all over this! I am sure RR are scrambling for some new narrative now since their punching bags Harry and Meghan are out of the picture for now!
I truly do not find that strange. Have they done it before… no… but there are a lot of firsts for the Cambridges this year and they are doing more and more things separately as they prepare for their future roles.
I love seeing them all together (they are one adorable family) but I also love seeing them divide and concur (in parenting and with their workload) as that will be more and more the case moving forward. In short… I think this is the Cambridges growing up and focusing more on the bigger picture.
As always just my opinion and I fully respect others have their own perspective.
The Middleton gene’s are strong in George and Louis. Both boys look at lot like Mike.
Cute kids.
I don’t think this is a sign of trouble in the marriage, especially as several other royals arrived separately and have done so over the years. It’s also the first year that they’ve brought Louis with them.
Does anyone know if Will and George arrived second or first? George seemed to be in a bit of a mood coming in (bless him) so I had wondered if Will stayed behind to get him settled and Kate went on ahead with the other kids to avoid being late. I think it’s probably as simple as George or Charlotte having something earlier in the day and the family deciding to split up and meet there to avoid being late.
Louis was there last year, from what I heard.
I’m team “This probably isn’t what we think it is” but I’m also team “Somethin ain’t right over at House Cambridge”.
Same!
Big time.
Agreed.
Slightly off topic, and I know it’s photoshopped clearly, but that’s a nice pic of them on the mag cover.
But I thought that was Keri Russell!
Yeah, they really airbrushed the hell out of those pics!
About Kate dropping out of Tusk, the people article says “that is good for other mothers out there.” How? Why? It will benefit other mothers if society sees Kate dropping out of events with no notice for some vague reason to do with the kids? Is every work place suddenly writing a new policy that says “employees who are mothers can cancel work events last minute or just not show up without any notice if they have kids because we saw the duchess of Cambridge do it”? I love how her cancelling is being spun as some good-works type of thing about how she’s changing societal conversations and expectations around motherhood and childcare. Huge eyeroll.
Everything Kate does is held up as “good for mothers”, lol! Part of her “never puts a foot wrong” shtick.
I love George’s grumpy faces.
But they left together- Sooo I guess it turns out this WASN’T particularly notable? Much ado…
Apparently they left together after TMZ called around to ask about the separate rides.
They all left together in one car so not sure how ‘legitimately notable’ this was after all? The faces the kids are making on their way home crack me up – they are clearly FED UP of this event and are ready to go home
Charlotte’s face…if looks could kill! I get it though. Events like this have a very short shelf life for kids’ tolerance. Also, man, Louie is a cutie!!
We were at 5 Hertford last night and William was there partying til 12:30 when his security whisked him home presumably. Maybe he was sleeping one off. 🤷🏻♀️
What a wanker.
If that’s true, I makes him look like a tedious turd.
What? Is that true? we need more information please. X
Yes – totally true. My boyfriend said this guy in the corner looks like William and I didn’t believe it at first because the said guy was fist-pumping and sweating and rocking out. But then I realized there was a lot of security in the room, and then I looked harder in the dim light and realized it was he. He passed two feet from me on his way out.
So much for his carefully contrived “just a country dad” image. I still think their marriage is seriously on the rocks, mainly because he’s a dickhead.
Whoa. If true, definitely trouble in paradise coupled with Rose.
Ooh, 🤔
And there you go. It’s totally normal for a dad of young kids to go partying during the week. All the best dads do it!
Ugh. The Cambridges (or their people) had to have worked closely with People on this.
Merry Christmas Queenie! Merry Christmas Prince Charles! Merry Christmas Camilla! You’ll all have tire tracks on your back from where the Cambridges run you down to ascend the throne!
In my experience when there’s trouble in paradise people usually go to great lengths to conceal said trouble. It’s all speculation at this point but this says to me that things are ok. They they don’t care about what this might suggest or reveal, they are simply doing whatever makes the most sense logistically or as per their preference. If there were trouble I think they’d be conscious to put on a united front.
Everytime the Cambridge’s are photographed it is always carefully thought out. Their PR goal is to look like the perfect family, that is exceptionally regal yet humble and down to earth. I think them arriving in two cars is so Kate could be photographed driving herself there, all part of her “she’s so down to earth” image. The kids are sat where they can be seen so the paps can get a good shot of them. Arriving separately does look questionable but the Cambridge’s clearly didn’t think so and we know they overthink every minute detail of their image. I can’t being myself to click on the daily mail article, I’m sure the heavily manipulated comments section is praising them to the heavens.
FWIW Edward and Sophie also drove over in seperate cars one of the kids with each of them so maybe start shreaking about their marriage as well
I saw that too and tried to post earlier……
Gosh and they said the Sussexs had a PR problem!🙄
This was either typical STUPIDITY of KP/Cambridges or a DELIBERATE attempt to shift focus from Andy joining them in sandringham later.
It’s very strange to do this (even if theres no trouble at home) after thst shrug clip is running the news worldwide!!
Did you find out where or how it was “leaked?” One of their charities posted the card that was posted to them for Christmas. Interested in how this counts as PR.
The Cambridge Christmas card leaked on Twitter but may have been pulled.
They better not release it only after the Sussexes release theirs. That would be really dumb.
Why?
Have we seen Charles and Camilla’s yet
Kate wore this truly vile tartan dress to the lunch – price tag is €2510. It’s beyond hideous. I might have to go and rest my eyes after seeing it.
It is best described thus: a nun, a yacht girl, and a Scottish lass walked into a dressmaker’s and commissioned a dress… The result is, well, as bad as it sounds.
Not very eco-friendly of the Cambridges to arrive to an event in separate vehicles!!! The media and the Cambridges made such a big stink about the Sussexes taking a private jet. They should’ve just taken an empty jet to the event.
Love the pure, unadulterated hypocrisy of Will & Kate!
The girl is a duplicate of Carole. Kate in usual cosplay. Maybe she and her 4 year old swap clothes.